What are some characteristics of pride? Thinking more of myself than I do of God. Believing I am better than others. Not being willing to admit weaknesses. Being unteachable. Inability to delegate. Having a primary goal of serving myself. Wanting to lead to receive personal glory. Needing to always be honored and appreciated. Overconfidence. Unsubmissiveness. Worry. Unwillingness to be corrected. Not asking for help. Continually correcting others. Ignoring the spiritual disciplines of prayer, church and Bible. Feeling morally superior to others. Talking more than listening. Refusing to ask for forgiveness. Being overly sensitive.
Randy Smith

Incense

Incense

INCENSE

BASIC R.C. BELIEF Granulated aromatic resin, carried in an incense boat and sprinkled by a small spoon upon a live coal in the censer (a vessel like bowl with a cover, suspended by chains). The priest swings the censer as the person or object is incensed; the dignity and importance of the object determines the use of a single or double swing.

Cardinal Newman, in DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, 1949 edition, page 349, admits that incense is of pagan origin.

Msgr. O’Sillovan, in EXTERERNALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, page 278, tells us that the use of incense is dated to the fifth century.

Roman Catholic writers all admit that the use of incense is either of pagan or Jewish origin, yet we know that the New Testament Church repelled the introduction of Jewish laws (Acts 15:10).

From CATHOLIC RELIGION PROVED BY PROTESTANT BIBLE, page 23. “USE OF INCENSE

  • the Bible teaches that incense symbolizing prayer can be used in churchers when offering praise and worship to God (Rev. 8:3; Psalm 141:2). Hence in Catholic ceremonies, the use of incense has a scriptural basis.”

From THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA. “Duiring the first four centuries there is no evidence of its use. In the Roman Catholic Church, incensation at the Gospel of the Mass appears very early – at the Offertory in the 11th century, at the Introit in the 12th and the Benedictus and Magnificat of the canonical hours about the 13th century, and in connection with the Elevation and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament about the 14th century.

CHRISTIAN COMMENT Comment by Alex Dunlap. “How early is very early. For at least 10100 years there was no incense pot swung at Mass. Yet RC writers have the audacity to say this practice appears in church history `very early.’ This is like saying 12 noon is very early in the day.”

Roman Catholic writers admit that the use of incense in religious ceremonies is of Jewish or pagan origin. The New Testament Church repelled the introduction of Jewish laws (Acts 15:10). Use of incense is dated to the fifth century (EXTERNALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Msgr. O’Sullivan, p. 278). Pagans, on joining the Church, had introduced many pagan customs.

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